Union leaders today attacked a Government minister for making a "daft" suggestion that public sector workers wouldn't lose any pay if they only go on strike for 15 minutes during a day of action later this month.

Nearly 300 civil servants and quango chiefs earn more than David Cameron's £142,500 salary, the Cabinet Office disclosed last night. The top earner is Tony Fountain, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority chief, on £375,000-£380,000. He also received £147,460 in home and pension-related allowances.

The number of civil servants and quango chiefs on salaries over £150,000 has been cut by more than 50 over the past year, at an annual saving to the taxpayer of around £10 million, it was revealed today.